Asymmetric Syntheses Based on 1,3-Oxathianes. 2. Synthesis of Chiral Tertiary α-Hydroxy Aldehydes, α-Hydroxy Acids, Glycols (RR'C(OH)CH2OH), and Carbinols (RR'C(OH)CH3) in High Enantiomeric Purity

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00322a034

A chiral 1,3-oxathiane (5) prepared from (+)-pulegone in three steps is converted to diastereomerically pure equatorial 2-acyl derivatives by lithiation, condensation with aldehydes, and Me2SO oxidation.Reaction of the resulting ketones with Grignard reagents at -78 deg C again proceeds highly stereoselectively (diastereomer excess generally above 90percent) according to Cram's rule (cyclic model).The resulting tertiary carbinols when cleaved with NCS/AgNO3 give chiral tertiary α-hydroxy aldehydes, RR'C(OH)CHO, plus a mixture of epimeric sultines which may be readily reconverted to the starting oxathiane.The hydroxy aldehydes have been oxidized to chiral tertiary α-hydroxy acids, RR'C(OH)CO2H, and reduced to primary-tertiary glycols, RR'C(OH)CH2OH, and further to tertiary carbinols, RR'C(OH)CH3, all with over 90percent ee.The opposite enantiomers of these compounds (again >90percent ee) may be obtained by starting with a diastereomeric 1,3-oxathiane (6), also available from (+)-pulegone.The configurations of the chiral products may be deduced from the manner of preparation and the assumption that Cram's rule is valid and agree with prior assignments in the literature.